Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Boundary, Howson, Kitimat, Microwave-Sinclair, Nass, Northwest Coastal, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart.
Plan for surface instabilities like storm and wind slabs to worsen over the day. Weak layers lurking in the upper metre of the snowpack should steer you toward lower consequence terrain.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Several natural wind slab avalanches were reported in the north of the region on Sunday and Monday morning. These avalanches were up to size 3 and focused around northerly aspects in the alpine.
Steep south-facing terrain below treeline produced wet loose slides to size 1.5 with explosives control, again in the north of the region.
No new avalanches were reported in the south of the region, where observations are limited.
Snowpack Summary
5 - 20 cm of new snow accumulated in the region Monday night, burying an already heavily wind affected upper snowpack in the alpine and at treeline. Below treeline the snow surface is moist.
Two weak layers exist in the top meter of the snowpack from earlier in December. A layer of facets and/or surface hoar down 20 to 40 cm and a crust down 40 to 80 cm.
Treeline snow depth range from 200-280 cm. The lower snowpack has no layers of concern.
Weather Summary
Tuesday night
Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, increasing. Freezing level around 800 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with increasing flurries bringing 5 to 20 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 900 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 30 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 1000 m.
Friday
Cloudy with flurries bringing a trace to 15 cm of new snow. 50 to 60 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Don't let storm day fever lure you into consequential terrain.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
New storm and wind slabs will continue to form as snowfall continues on Wednesday. Fresh slabs are likely be sensitive to rider traffic.
Surface avalanches have potential to step down to weak layers in the top metre of the snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5